How Does CO2 Laser Cutter Work?

Laser cutting is used everyday by the manufacturing industry for cutting metals. CO2 laser cutters changed the game. These lasers are not only useful for the manufacturing industry but also for the medical field and artists. 

The manufacturing industry uses it for cutting and engraving. The medical industry uses it for skincare, whereas the artist uses it for making art. All these industries have different machines but a common laser, i.e., a CO2 laser.

Here we will learn why industries prefer CO2 laser cutters and how it works. 

Advantages of CO2 Laser

Here are some benefits of a CO2 laser cutter.

1. Lower Power Consumption: These machines have a low maintenance cost. Also, the replacement required is inexpensive.  Fanuc CO2 lasers are popular, and you can easily find the Fanuc replacement parts online.
   
   

2. Contactless Process: The laser beam does not physically touch the material. Instead, it causes the material to melt through the intense heat produced by the beam.
   
   

3. Safe: Laser cutting is safer than other forms of cutting as the whole process is bladeless. The beam is sealed in a tight lightbox, which makes it safer.
   
   

4. Precise Cuts: The cuts produced by the lasers are highly accurate, precise, clean, and smooth. It is unlikely to see this in other cuts.
   
   

5. Applications: Laser cutters have many applications from the manufacturing industry to the medical sector. Artists also use it for engraving purposes.

How does a CO2 Laser Work?

The electricity runs via a gas-filled tube to produce light for CO2 laser cutters. The light produced by the CO2 laser is powerful compared to the usual light.

This light passes through the tube that has mirrors at both ends. One of the mirrors in the tube is highly reflective, while the other mirror allows some light to pass through it. These mirrors usually reflect most of the light when traveling through the tube. Thus, it causes the light wave to build intensity. So when the light becomes bright enough it then passes through the partially reflective mirror.

These mirrors emit the light or laser beam to the material that is to be cut. When the intense heat travels to the material, the light vaporizes the material that is to be cut. Hence, it leaves an accurate and smooth cut.

The gas produced during formation of laser and cutting process is a combination of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, and helium. 

Also, the light produced from the laser is infrared and thus, it is visible to the human eye. The wavelength of these beams is long so it can cut cloth, wood, glass, metal, and paper. 

While forming the cut, the laser somewhat damages the machine as well. And that is why some parts like the focus lens, battery, mirrors, etc need replacement. You can find Fanuc replacement parts online. 

Verify the Settings

There are three important settings that need attention when it comes to laser cutting.

1. Focus: There is a focus lens inside the laser head that is responsible for clean and smooth cuts. The lens needs to be changed at regular intervals. You can buy Fanuc parts online. They are easy to find and are of premium quality.
   
   

2. Speed: The speed determines how fast the laser head will move. Ensure to maximize the speed while engraving or cutting the thinner material.
   
   

3. Power: High power is used for thicker materials, and low power is suitable for engraving or thin materials. Adjust it according to the material. 

Conclusion

Now that you know how the CO2 laser beam works, consider some important points discussed above. The speed, focus, and power of the laser depend on the material. These factors will further decide how smooth and clean the cut will turn out. Also, make sure to replace the parts that need replacement. Choose brand products such as Fanuc.  Search “Fanuc parts online”, and you can easily find it from authorized dealers.

Source: https://altpartsinc.wixsite.com/altpartsinc/single-post/how-does-co2-laser-cutter-work

Press Brakes: Types, Toolings, and Bending Methods - You Should Know Before Selecting

Do you want to buy the new press brake machine, or the older one has become a headache for you? To find a good one, you can try searching “Amada Press Brake for sale” online, and you will come across some results to select from. 

You will come to know different types of press brakes for bending metals. Not only types, but there are other factors as well to consider while selecting one.

Before discussing the types, let’s have an overview of press brake machines.

Little Bit About Press Brake

Press brake is the pressing tool for bending metal sheets and other materials. Usually employed for sheet metals, it forms a curve by pressing the material between the machine and die.

The bending process may repeat several times to gain the desired form of metal. The machine is typically narrow and long, so the issue of bending the long sheet metal is no more.

These days, when individuals talk about press brakes, they mainly refer to hydraulic press brakes for bending. However, there are other types of bending machines as well in the market. Let’s discuss them:

Types of Press Brakes

• Manual Press Brakes

It is a common type of press brake, also known as sheet metal brake. In manual press brakes, one needs to manually set the dimensions and angles when used. It consists of the work table, supporters, and the clamping plate.  

As it requires manual work, operating manual press brakes is much more intricate than other press brake machines. 

So for getting optimum results, it is recommended to make mass production. After completion of one batch, adjust the dimensions and angles for continued production.

• Hydraulic Press Brakes

Need reliability and low cost of production? Hydraulic press brakes are better alternatives. As said, these press brakes are mainly used for industrial purposes for bending sheet metal products. 

Joseph Bramah first introduced the hydraulic press brake in the 17th century (1795). It is one of the oldest press brakes available in the market and can handle the heaviest workloads. This trait makes it common in the industrial sector.

It works on Pascal’s law “When there is an increase in pressure in a uniform fluid, then it is equally transmitted in all the directions.”

Based on this, hydraulic (water-based) press brakes produce the compressive power with the aid of hydraulic cylinders.

• CNC Press Brake

CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) twisting is the assembling cycle completed by the CNC press brakes. It offers high control, bending, and repositioning accuracy, which makes it easy to use.  

When operating CNC press brakes, you just need to input the number of pieces required for each step’s bending and bending angle. The CNC machines will work as per your configurations in the controller.

Now you know the major press brake machines, you can find a good machine by searching Amada press brake for sale. Not only the good machine but the tooling is also crucial for giving form to the sheet. Let’s discuss them.

Toolings

The press brake dies are the tools applied by press brakes to carve a sheet metal. There are different types of toolings to form sheet metal. Let’s discuss them.

• V-Dies: Used for giving V-shaped bends.
• Curling Dies: Used to curl the edges of the sheet.
• Acute Angle Dies: Used in air bending to create acute, obtuse, and right angles.
• 90 degree dies: This die is majorly used for bottom bending.
• Offset Dies: Punch and die set that bends two angles in a single blow to form a Z shape. 

Bending Methods

Tooling has a major effect on the form of the sheet metal. So you must buy good quality parts like Fanuc replacement parts for your press brake.

Type of Bending Method

• Bottom Bending

Bottom bending, a contrast of air bending, presses the sheet metal against the slope of V, with air between the sheet and the bottom of V opening.

• Air Bending

In air bending, the workpiece will come into contact with the edge of the die and the tip of the punch. The punch presses the sheet into the V opening without touching the bottom. 

• Coining

The coining method involves stamping the workpiece between the punch and die. This method is highly accurate and achievable with older machines. 

But this method is more costly than air and bottom bending; therefore, it is irregularly applied. 

End Words

The right press brake machine can make or break things, and it is important for the manufacturer to select the right one. Not only the press brake machines but the workpiece and requirements also need your attention while selecting.

If you need the machine to handle the heaviest workload, then a hydraulic press brake is your way to go. Rather than doing manual work, if you need to automate the process with some configurations, then the CNC press brake is a better option. 

Source: https://altpartsinc.wixsite.com/altpartsinc/single-post/press-brakes-types-toolings-and-bending-methods-you-should-know-before-selecting

Benefits of Using Laser Marking in Beverage Industry

Laser marking today takes over the majority of the market. They are popular in different industries.

The Food and Beverage industry is one of them, successfully leveraging its applications. In this article, we are going to disclose how the laser marking industry is useful in the food and beverage industry.

Basics: What is laser marking?

It is a process in which a laser beam interacts with the materials and changes its properties as specified. There are four popular forms of laser marking in the packaging industry i.e. annealing, foaming, coloration, and carbon migration.

Each of them has a specific use in the food and beverage industry. According to the research, laser marking might be the most sustainable technology for beverage packaging in the near future. Additionally, there are predictions that it will soon replace papers with wood fibers and paper pulp.

Additionally, thanks to new government of USA regulations regarding the labels on the food, laser marking has become an important part of the food industry today.

Here are 10 major benefits of the Laser Marking industry.

1. Brand Protection:

If you are looking to leave a mark in the market or in your industry then you need to protect your brand. It is wise to have a competitor or have some local brands trying to copy your style and sell your products. Laser marking helps you achieve these things with parts like Prima spare parts, Fanuc replacement parts. You can use them and etch on your packages leaving the unique identification marks.

This makes it easy for your customers to find your brand easily. Today there are millions of deliveries taking place every day. You will not prefer that your customers feel cheated right? So, with the help of the laser machines, you can rely on technologies like smart coding and convert coding to protect your brand and for hassle-free delivery.

2. Innovative Solutions:

Innovation is everywhere in the food and beverage industry. Beverage producers are working hard to make not only their drinks exciting and fresh but their packaging as well. Today with the innovation in the bottle designs there is also innovation in labeling these bottles as well. It is important to use the good quality of the laser marking with quality parts like Prima spare parts, Fanuc replacement parts for labeling your products and make them stand out.

3. Reliability in Mass Manufacturing:

When the operation scales up to a large extent you need to ensure that your product labels are accurate and reliable. Traditional labeling methods don’t adapt by giving you the quality and assurance you need. Many large organizations are using laser marking to get rid of reliability issues. You need all your processes to move smoothly and cannot afford to slow down your supply.

Thus, when working with mass manufacturing laser marking can do a phenomenal job.

4. Laser Coding for permanent markings:

Many times, you might have faced a situation where your customers return you the products because of labeling issues either on your cans or bottles.

In such situations, laser marking can come to your rescue.

If you place things using laser marking on the beverage containers you don’t have to worry about whether it will stick or not. Laser coding is a permanent solution. You can use it for printing machines on glass, bottles, cardboard, and many more places. In short laser marking is versatile and can perform various operations with laser parts like Prima spare parts, Fanuc replacement parts.

5. Easy to Maintain:

One of the major advantages of using laser machines for your beverage labeling is the ease it provides to use and maintain. These machines don’t have maintenance costs and if anything breaks down then the warranty of the machine covers it. In fact, laser machines are more affordable compared to any other. There are multiple benefits of having laser marking machines in different industries depending on their usage.

Conclusion:

Laser marking today is a big hit in the packaging industry and is here to stay. They are widely useful for its advantages and benefits it brings along. With the passage of time passing people have started realizing the importance of using them in their day to day business and grow their customer base and business as well.

Source: https://altpartsinc.wixsite.com/altpartsinc/single-post/2020/06/20/Benefits-of-Using-Laser-Marking-in-Beverage-Industry